M assey U ni ver si t y, New Zealand (Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington) Spring & Calendar Year 2010 I AP Program Handbook The New Zealand Massey University Program i s offered by International Academic Programs (IAP) at the University of Wi sconsi n-Madison in conjunction with M assey University. This IAP Program Handbook supplements handbook(s) or materials you receive from Massey University as well as the IAP Study Abroad Handbook and provides you with the most up-to-date information and advice available at the time of printing. Changes may occur before your departure or while you are abroad. Questions about your program abroad (housing options, facilities abroad, etc.) as well as questions relating to your relationship with your host university or academics (e.g. course credit and equivalents, registration deadlines, etc.) should be directed to International Academic Programs at UW-Madison. This program handbook contains the following information: Contact Information ................................................................................................................ 1 Program Dates ......................................................................................................................... 3 Preparation Before Leaving ..................................................................................................... 4 Travel and Arrival Information ................................................................................................ 6 The Academic Program ........................................................................................................... 7 Living Abroad ....................................................................................................................... 10 Contact Information On-Site Program Information M assey U ni ver si t y – International Programmes Physical and Courier Address: Post al Address: International Office International Office Courtyard Complex PN 721 M assey U ni versi ty M assey U ni versi ty Private Bag 11 222 Tennent Drive Palmerston North 4442 Palmerston North 4474 New Zealand Email: [email protected] Phone: + 64-6-350-5599 Fax: 64-6-350-5698 Main On-Site Program Contacts at the Palmerston North campus: Rachel Fenton Manager, International Programmes and Marketing [email protected] 1 Sonia Hutton Coordinator, International Programmes (Study Abroad Students) [email protected] Sarah Litwin-Sc h m i d Administrator, International Programmes (Exchange Students) [email protected] International Support at other campuses: Wellington (Wellington Campus) International Student Support at Wellington Located in the Contact Centre on the Ground floor of Block 4 Auckland (Albany Campus) International & Migrant Student Support Services Albany Located on the ground floor next to Massey Contact in Quadrangle Building A, Gate One, off State Highway 17, Albany. UW-Madison Information International Academic Programs (IAP) University of Wisconsin-Madison 250 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive Madison, WI 53706 Tel: 608-265-6329 Fax: 608-262-6998 Web: www.studyabroad.wisc.edu For Program Advising & Grades: For Financial Matters: Jessa Boche Judy Humphrey IAP Study Abroad Advisor IAP Financial Specialist Tel: 608-265-6329 Tel: 608-262-6785 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Emergency Contact Information In case of an emergency, call the main IAP number (608) 265-6329 between 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Fri day; after-hours or on weekends call the IAP staff on call at (608) 516- 9440. Embassy Registration All program participants who are U.S. citizens must register at the U.S. Embassy before departure as this will help in case of a lost passport or other mishap. You can register on- line at https://travelregistration.state.gov. If you are not a U.S. citizen, register at your home country’s embassy or consulate. 2 U.S. Consulate General in Auckland Post al Address: Street Address: Consulate General of the United States of 3rd Floor America Citigroup Building Private Bag 92022, 23 Customs St, (cnr. Commerce St) Auckland 1142 Auckland 1010 New Zealand Phone: + 64-9-303-2724 Ext: 2800/2842/2848/2856 Fax: + 64 9 366 0870 Email: [email protected] In emergency situations, please contact American Citizen Services: Busi ness H ours Emergency Assi stance Phone: + 64-9-303-2724, ext: 2900 After Hours Emergency Assistance: Phone: + 64-4-462-6000 and leave a message, the Duty Officer will return your call. Program Dates Semester 1 (Spring) 2010 Orientation Week for new international students February 14-20 Cl asses begi n February 22 Mid-Semester Break (including Easter) April 2-16 Cl asses End May 28 Examinations June 8-19 Semester One ends June 19 Semester 2 (Fall) 2010 Orientation Week for new international students Ju l y 6 -8 Cl asses begi n July 12 Mid-Semester Break August 23-September 3 Cl asses En d October 15 Examinations October 26-November 10 Semester Two ends November 11 3 Preparation Before Leaving Refer to the Pre-Departure Checklist on pages four and five of the IAP Study Abroad Handbook for essential information. Immigration Documents Passport A passport is needed to travel to New Zealand and to obtain your student visa. Apply immediately for a passport if you do not already have one. Passport information and application forms can be found on the U.S. State Department website (http://travel.state.gov/passport). If you already have your passport, make sure it will be valid for at least 6 months beyond the length of your stay abroad. Vi sa All International Students need apply for a student visa to study in New Zealand before departing from their home country. If you do not have the appropriate visa on arrival you may be denied entry into New Zealand. In order to apply for your visa, you will need to accept your “Offer of Place” issued by Massey upon your acceptance. You will need to sign this offer and return it to Massey. At this time, you will also need to pay the required insurance premium (in 2009, the amount was NZ$230/semester). Once you have completed both of these tasks, M assey w i l l i ssue you a Confirmation of Place. With proof of your insurance payment and your Confirmation of Place, you will be able to apply for a student visa. For more information about the student visa process, visit Massey University’ s w ebsi te: http://futurestudents.massey.ac.nz/massey/international/pre-departure-and-arrival- information/student-visa.cfm Handling Money Abroad The official currency of N ew Zealand i s the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), with 1 New Zealand dollar equaling 100 cents. As of 8/11/09, the exchange rate was $1 USD to $1.501 NZD. There are many options for handling money abroad, and it is difficult to say which one is the best. General tips for study abroad students are listed in the IAP Study Abroad Handbook. Packing Effective packing is a refined art. The following tips are suggestions which might help when you are packing: Ensure that every bag is marked in capital letters with your name, address and final destination both inside and outside of the bag. Be warned that both trains and planes place additional charges on extra or overweight luggage. Please check with your airline for the most recent regulations on check-in procedures and carry-on baggage. Do not bring a piece of baggage that is so heavy that you cannot lift or move it without help. A good test is to pack everything you want to take and see if you can walk around the block. 4 Avoid overpacking! If you look at any experienced traveler, the first thing you will notice is how little luggage s/he has with them. The more clothes you pack, the more you will have to take care of, and the heavier your suitcase will be. Make sure that everything you pack is essential. Also, you will probably accumulate quite a few gifts and souvenirs so it is a good idea to leave space in your suitcases. Plan accordingly and pack lightly. Take Practical Clothes – avoid bringing clothes that need dry-cleaning (expensive…). Clothes that require minimal care, are comfortable to travel in, and can be layered are best to take. These items include T-shirts, lightweight sweaters and sweatshirts. Casual clothing is the most comfortable for day-to-day New Zealand life. But if you plan on going clubbing, out to dinner, or to the theatre at night, dressier clothing would be best. Roll Your Clothes. The fashion industry uses this method of packing as you can fit more in your suitcase and have fewer wrinkles in your clothes upon arrival. Take a Backpack or a Side Pack. Backpacks are easier to carry than suitcases on longer trips. Internal frame packs are comfortable to carry, but can be cumbersome on trains and buses. A smal l travel bag i s convenient for weekend trips and a day pack (like a messenger bag) is handy for around town or day trips. Essential Extras: • Comfortable shoes (make sure you break in new ones) • Strong umbrella and raincoat or waterproof parka • Wind-up or battery-operated alarm clock • Washcloth and 2 bath towels • Travel purse (one that you wear around your neck) or money belt for passport, ID, and money • Small sewing kit and scissors (be sure to pack these in your suitcase, not your carry on) • Digital camera or film (film is less expensive in the U.S.) • Shower shoes (for youth hostels) Electronics Electrical service is not identical throughout the world. New Zealand electricity runs on 240 volts, while U.S. runs on 110 volts. Hence, if you plan to bring any electrical appliances (hairdryer, electric razor, radio, etc.), you will need to purchase in the U.S. both a converter for the voltage and an adapter to fit New Zealand sockets. IAP advi ses students against bringing any appliances from the U.S. Instead, we recommend that you purchase an inexpensive hairdryer, curling iron/straightener or radio in New Zealand – the money you spend will save you from blown fuses in your flat and fried converters. In the past, roommates have often split the cost of these small appliances and then shared them for the semester.